NCE, my very easy DCC system from
All of my throttles including the Power Cab
have:
·
3rd
Generation Radio that provides “Unrivalled Performance” with a range of 100’
plus.
·
Short
2 inch “loaded” antenna in one Procab with just the RB02 and Internal antennas for the ultimate in
handling friendliness, by using a couple of repeaters on my 30’ x 30’ layout.
·
Rechargeable
NiMH batteries.
·
“On
board” Charger that charges the rechargeable batteries at 50 mAs, anytime the
throttle is plugged into the Cab Bus. A separately powered 12 volt DC Wall Wart,
plugged into the Cab Bus as per UTP instructions, could power the “chargers”
with the DCC system OFF, for example, over night.
·
Easy
“Turn On” of the Procabs. No more holding the ENTER button while pressing the
Estop button at 3 o’clock.
·
Auto
power off after an adjustable period of throttle inactivity (standard). For day
to day running, mine set to “5” for 10 minutes. For an operating session, all
set to “0” – on all the time. No display going blank, unless I haven’t charged
them.
·
My
Procab’s display back light is illuminated at ALL time.
Note: All of the modifications were courtesy of
Mark Schutzer – Thanks Mark.
Modifications I have made to my Throttles
and System – Click on them to select more text.
Knob and Potentiometer for the Procab instead of the encoder wheel.
Bob’s
Switch for my Cab04PRs for direction control:
Radio Cab04s Time out period
setting from 1 – 20 mins or ON all the time:
NiMH
batteries for radio throttles, on board charging and charger.
Using an ON/OFF switch to TURN
ON radio throttles.
Command Station mod to enable
reading of Tsunami CVs without a Soundtraxx PTB-100 booster.
Power Cab – fitting a Radio
Upgrade Kit.
Choosing
the System – my reason to buy NCE:
When looking for a DCC system, I did what
all modellers should do and checked on the Internet, all the known DCC
manufacturers. My local hobby shop had System One at first and then NCE.
I was already operating with the local
Australian designed command control system, Infocom, that I had since 1992, so
operating locos independently was nothing new to me. I had Infocom for about 10
years. I always wanted to have sound in my locos, but with the difficulty of
putting a sound board into my locos plus a motor receiver that in most cases,
to get quieter running, I used the non pulsed versions, I had to glue output
ICs, that supplied smooth DC, to some metal for heat sinking. This was not
required for pulse models. A local modeller was making his own sound boards
that were not too big but was mounting them both in larger locos than I have,
he models
After visiting a few layouts that had sound
and I was so impressed that I wanted sound in my locos, NOW, so the hunt was on
to buy DCC. The way you operate your layout will be a determining factor on
your choice of DCC system. Buying a DCC system, to quote the moderator Ron on
the DCC4Everyone Yahoo Group, “There is no BEST system, just the one that is
BEST for you”.
I model the NSW prototype that
predominately operated single engine trains until they required assistance to
go up hills. This necessitated the use of adding a second loco (consisting) or
a helper. On the Main North there will be 4 major 1
in 40 grades, operating as the prototype did.
I am building my layout with these grades
included. The railway going north to Newcastle had to climb the Fassifern Bank,
where double headed AD60 Garratts made quite a show, climbing the “bank” from a
standing start at Fassifern Station. Crossing the
This section from the Gosford to
At the base of these grades, consists will
have to be built up and at the peak, broken up. As I am not running timetables,
that maybe something in the future, but a long way off, no preplanning about
what locos will be ready to be “consisted” at particular locations, the consist
will be built at the actual location, when required.
This “out on the layout”, consisting requirement,
precluded me from considering systems that had only one location to build
consists.
Operation on my walk around layout that
occupies 2/3rds of my double car garage and a downstairs room would be so much
easier with radio control throttles that the operators don’t have to
continually plug in, was the next major requirement. I was not a member of a
club yet, so all my hands on experience was at the
The throttle is your interface to your
trains, so the way it feels and operates to YOU is one of the most important
criteria for choosing a DCC system. I suggest when buying a DCC system, you
should see if you can operate the systems that are on your “short list”.
NCE has a lot of throttle options,
depending on your choice of having a screen on the Procab with buttons or wheel
(potentiometer or encoder) or throttles with out a screen that have either a
knob (either potentiometer or encoder) or buttons. There are 5 throttle types
and each can be purchased with radio so that makes 10 throttle options. You
must have at least one Procab, to program CVs etc and this is the throttle that
comes with the basic package.
The NCE is a true walk around system,
everything thing that has to be done in running the railway, can be done
anywhere, when using a Procab. I call the Procab a radio controlled control
panel that some other systems have as their command station at a fixed
location.
So for me, apart for the normal features of
a DCC system, I had to have as Ron says “… the one that’s best for you” and
considering my layout and how I intend to operate it, this sets the DCC system
requirements. This should be high in the priorities of your DCC system choice.
So for me this is what I require, listed below.
Easy
and flexible consisting that will enable making and breaking consists anywhere.
To be able to, Program on the
Walk
around capability preferably with radio control.
Easy
to understand throttles, with a good feel to them.
I
prefer “knob” throttles so there had to be options. (I have since fitted a knob
to my Procab, see my mods)
4
digit addressing, this ruled out entry level DCC.
Not
to have a central Control Panel.
This led me to NCE and with my layout I
would prefer to have radio throttles. Once these were available and were
approved in
Having operated with a couple of DCC
systems, I find that there is not that much difference between them all, they
operate trains but it’s the extra features, that unless you have given a lot of
thought to or operated a few DCC systems, you may not yet realise how important
some of these features are.
NCE is really all about choices. Like
different throttles, you can use the Procab that some people find very daunting
or the simpler engineer throttles, programming and consisting anywhere, total
flexibility, portable control panel etc. You have choices, if you use it as I
do, or any other way, it is your choice. Operating radio on a walk around
layout is the only way to go. With a smaller layout, radio may not be worth the
extra expense, but for me I would not operate without it.
Choose the system that best suits the way
you operate, very important.
Remember what Ron says “There is no BEST
system, just the one that is BEST for you”
The NCE System:
Under Construction
For now go to NCE’s web site